The membership of the twelve-man Anglo-American Inquiry Commission on Palestine, the formation of which was announced by President fruman and British Foreign Minister Bevin on Nov. 13, was made public today, simultanously in Washington and London.
The commission was asked to complete its work withon 120 days, if possible. President Truman’s press secretary, Charles G. Ross, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that the 120 days would begin when the commission actually started its work, which, he said, would depend on the body itself.
The two chairmen, who will rotate the position, are, for the United States, Joseph C. Hutcheson, judge of the Fifth Circuit Court at Bouston, Texas, and, for England, Sir John Singleton, judge of the King’s Bench Division of the High Court of Justice in London.
THE OTHER AMERICAN MEMBERS ARE:
James G. McDonald, former League of Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and chairman of the President’s Advisory Committee on Political Refugees. Frank Aydalotte, director of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton University, former president of Swarthmere College and American secretary of the Rhodes Trustees. Frank H. Buxton, editor of the Boston Herald, D. Max Gardner, former Governor of North Carolina, now practising law in Washington. William Phillips, former Under-Secretary of State, former ambassador to Italy and former personal representative of the President in India,
THE BRITISH MEMBERS ARE:
Wilfred P. Crick, economic adviser to the Midland Bank, who was formerly with the Ministry of Food. Richard H.S. Crossman, Labor Member of Parliament, a former fellow of New College of Oxford University, assistant editor of the “New Statesman and Nation,” and deputy director of psychological warfare. Sir Frederick Legett, until recently deputy secretary of the Ministry of Labor and National Services. Major Reginald E. Manningham-Buller, Conservative Member of Parliament. Lord Morrison (Baron Robert Craigmyle), former Labor Member of Parliament.
The announcement said that “the procedure of the commission will be determined by the commission itself, and it will be open to it, if it thinks fit, to deal simultancously, through the medium of sub-committees, with its various terms of reference.” The terms of reference, as announced on Nov. 13, are:
1- To examine political, economic and social conditions in Palestine as they bear upon the problem of Jewish immigration and settlement therein and the well-being of the peoples now living therein.
2 – To examine the position of the Jews in those countries in Europe where they have been the victims of Nazi and Fascist persecution, and the practical measures
3 – To hear the views of competent witnesses and to consult representative Arabs and Jews on the problems of Palestine as such problems are affected by conditions subject to examination under paragraphs 1 and 2 above and by other relevant facts and circumstances, and to make recommendations to His Majesty’s Government and the Government of the United States for an interim handling of these problems as well as for their permanent solution.
4 – To make such other recommendations to His Majesty’s Government and the government of the United States as may be necessary to meet the immediate needs arising from conditions subject to examination under paragraph 2 above, by remedial action in the Bropean countries in question or by the provision of facilities for emigration (##) and settlement in countries outside Europe. (See U.S. Zionists’ statement on page 5)
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
